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Tom Higgins to coach Montreal Alouettes

Tom Higgins is the new head coach of the Montreal Alouettes. (John Ulan / The Canadian Press)

By Bill BeaconThe Canadian Press

Tues., Feb. 25, 2014

MONTREAL—Coach Tom Higgins calls working with general manager Jim Popp “a match made in heaven.”

And the pleasantries exchanged on a conference call Tuesday made it hard to imagine they were ever rivals for the Montreal Alouettes head coaching job.

That was settled when team owner Bob Wetenhall insisted that the jobs of coach and general manager be kept separate, and that Popp would have to stick to GM duties.

“This is the model that has made us successful,” said Wetenhall. “This has given Jim the time and the freedom to go out and build our team, year after year, always with a few new players added.

“To have a GM with the freedom and the time to do this is the model we really wanted to go back to.”

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In the 59-year-old Higgins, the Alouettes — who also acquired all-star return specialist Larry Taylor from the Stampeders for draft picks — hired a CFL veteran who spent seven years as head coach in Edmonton and Calgary, winning a Grey Cup with the Eskimos in 2003. The Woodbridge, N.J., native was the league’s director of officiating for the past six years.

“Tom brings a winning record and a tremendous reputation as a stand-up, high-class guy,” said Wetenhall.

Popp, GM since the team returned to Montreal in 1996 and considered among the CFL’s best, had hoped to continue in both jobs after taking over from the fired Dan Hawkins, who had no previous CFL experience, only five games into the 2013 campaign.

When Higgins was confirmed in the job on Monday, it raised speculation that Popp may be on his way out.

Wetenhall would not confirm Popp’s long-term status with the club, but made it clear he wanted his GM to stay. And Popp, whose name has been linked to NFL jobs in recent years, said he’s wants to carry on.

“I’ve been with the Alouettes for 18 years — I plan on being there. It’s my other home,” said Popp. “I’ve had six children that were all born in Montreal and I really have no interest in leaving.”

That Popp joined the conference call was a surprise. His name wasn’t mentioned in the Higgins announcement, unusual for a GM when a coach is hired.

Wetenhall’s son Andrew, a team governor, said that as a candidate for the coaching job, Popp would have been in conflict of interest if he had a say in who the next coach would be. But Popp had provided the owners with a list of potential candidates and assessed their abilities.

“This is a case where two people can work together who didn’t select one another,” said Andrew Wetenhall. “We have the added benefit of two guys who know each other and have a heck of a lot of respect for each other.”

Higgins said he didn’t feel awkward at all working with Popp.

“I couldn’t be happier,” he said. “I think our personalities complement one another. We both want the same thing. This is an opportunity for myself to get back on the field where I belong. This is not a challenge whatsoever.”

Higgins’ first job will be to hire an offensive co-ordinator and fill out the coaching staff, which he expects to complete within 10 days.

The Alouettes had already signed defensive co-ordinator Noel Thorpe to a two-year contract extension on Dec. 4, with the added title of assistant head coach. They also confirmed Andre Bolduc, a former CFL player and head coach at Sherbrooke University, was signed as a defensive assistant coach.

Wetenhall said one of Higgins’ assets was his ability to work with young quarterbacks, which will be needed in Montreal this season. For the first time since 2000, they will not have Anthony Calvillo as starter after the CFL’s all-time passing leader retired. Troy Smith, the 2006 Heisman Trophy winner, and Tanner Marsh are expected to compete for the starting job, with Alex Brink also in the picture.

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